New Delhi:
It's been one of the most talked about controversies to hit the world of publishing.
And now, Penguin Canada's former CEO, David Davidar, has broken his silence on allegations of sexual harassment levied against him by Ms Lisa Rundle, a former colleague.
A statement released by Mr. Davidar's lawyers said he had not sexually harassed anyone, nor was he guilty of assault or force.
Spelling out the details of his relationship with Ms Rundle, Davidar's lawyers said that the relationship between the two was entirely consensual. Describing it as a "consensual, flirtatious relationship that grew out of close friendship with a colleague," the statement goes on to say, "It was not until several months after the trip to Frankfurt (Oct 2009) that Ms. Rundle initiated a complaint of sexual harassment by Mr. Davidar. Mr. Davidar subsequently told Ms. Rundle that her complaint would have no effect on her employment."
The statement ends by saying: "David Davidar is happily married. He deeply regrets the trouble that has been visited on his wife in recent days. He apologizes to her."
Davidar's lawyers said Lisa Rundle's charges of harassment were untrue. Ms Rundle's sexual harassment complaint resulted in David Davidar being asked to leave Penguin.
After Davidar's clarification statement, Bobbi Olsen, Ms Rundle's lawyer said, "This statement recants and reverses his two prior media assertions, with regard to the nature of his departure from Penguin and of the nature of the friendship with Ms Rundle."